Self-reported physical activity and risk markers for cardiovascular disease after spinal cord
injury
Sammanfattning
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether self-reported physical activity of a moderate/vigorous intensity
influences risk markers for cardiovascular disease in persons with paraplegia due to spinal cord
injury.
DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS: A total of 134 wheelchair-dependent individuals (103 men, 31 women) with chronic (? 1
year) post-traumatic spinal cord injury with paraplegia.
METHODS: Cardiovascular disease markers (hypertension, blood glucose and a blood lipid panel)
were analysed and related to physical activity.
RESULTS: One out of 5 persons reported undertaking physical activity ? 30 min/day. Persons who
were physically active ? 30 min/day were significantly younger than inactive persons. Systolic and
diastolic blood pressures were lower in the physically active group. When adjusting for age, the
association between systolic blood pressure and physical activity disappeared. Physical activity ?
30 min/day had a tendency to positively influence body mass index and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. Men had significantly higher systolic and
diastolic blood pressures than women, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and higher triglycerides. No other
significant differences between men and women were found.
CONCLUSION: Self-reported physical activity ? 30 min/day in persons with spinal cord injury
positively influenced diastolic blood pressure. No other reductions in cardiovascular disease risk
markers were seen after controlling for age. These results indicate a positive effect of physical
activity, but it cannot be concluded that recommendations about physical activity in cardiovascular
disease prevention for the general population apply to wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal
cord injury.